H-E-B developing a presence

Two new H-E-B stores will open up in The Leader area in the next two years. First up will be one on Shepherd Drive, followed by Washington Avenue. Photo supplied

The groundwork for H-E-B’s move into the Heights area has been laid in speech for months, and it appears as though development is about to go full speed ahead on multiple fronts.

H-E-B’s ever-growing presence in The Leader community is moving right along as spring begins, as evidenced by a currently leveled parcel of land at the corner of Washington Avenue and South Heights Boulevard. In May, the land will begin undergoing its transformation as Houston-based Midway Companies will break ground on a new H-E-B, which will serve as the anchor for an integrated, mixed-use property termed Buffalo Heights.

Offering proximity to the Washington Avenue corridor as well as Buffalo Bayou Park, hiking and biking trails, Memorial Park, Downtown, and Houston’s most walkable neighborhoods, the H-E-B launches the first phase of a redeveloping district that Midway says is attracting upscale apartments and gourmet eateries.

“We are looking forward to creating a unique shopping destination for our neighbors along the Washington corridor,” H-E-B Houston President Scott McClelland said in a release. “Our new store will be reminiscent of the community it serves and add to the longevity of this distinctive development.”

The approximately 96,000-square-foot store will be part of the first phase of development for Buffalo Heights set on approximately four acres of land at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Heights Boulevard, offering proximity to the Heights and surrounding neighborhoods.

“Buffalo Heights affords the rare opportunity to reinvent a community by delivering a healthy lifestyle built around local fresh food, outdoor activity and signature green spaces,” said Jonathan Brinsden, CEO of Midway in a release. “This first phase will be a catalyst for more innovative and transformational developments to come.

According to Midway Vice President Ann Taylor, the H-E-B is set to open its doors in the Spring of 2019 barring any setbacks.

For more information on the new H-E-B or the Buffalo Heights District, visit buffaloheightsdistrict.com.

Shepherd location still on trackWhile there may have been a few setbacks, it appears the San-Antonio based grocer’s plans for 23rd Street and Shepherd Drive have not changed, as the development is set to begin construction this coming summer, according H-E-B spokesperson Lacey Dalcour, and McClelland told The Leader earlier this year that all appears to point towards a March 2018 grand opening.